The heat is on at Perry party

There’s a big crowd here at Abel’s (official crowd estimate from Davey Joe: “a whole bunch of people”) and the fans aren’t quite cutting it on the enclosed deck overlooking the lake.

But the heat’s not wilting the enthusiasm of people like Helen Sparks waiting with her 5-year-old son Sam to welcome Gov. Rick Perry back from his first presidential campaign swing.

“I have great faith in him,” said Sparks, 42, an accounting manager.

One Perry supporter joked as he left the room briefly, “Cash bar? I’m outta here.” He noted that he usually attends church on Saturday evening so that he can golf Sunday mornings, so this is quite the sacrifice.